The Chigi Chapel was founded by the great banker Agostino Chigi (1465-1520). It was designed by Raphael and is known for its fusion of architecture, sculpture and painting. The chapel is also important as it foreshadows many features of the Baroque, in particular the illusionism of the dome mosaics, the marble decoration of the walls, and the obelisks for the tombs. Sherman plausibly suggests that the painting over the altar was originally intended to be an Assumption, if this is correct then Raphael would have forestalled Bernini in the idea of continuing the action across the space of a church or chapel as the Virgin would have been moving upwards towards the figure of God the Father. Work was interrupted in 1520 with the death of Cardinal Fabio Chigi (Alexander VIII) and completed by Bernini after 1652.' Research for Archivision by Marlene Philion-Jacques. B.A. (Art History)